Etihad downgrades Perth flights from Boeing 787 to Airbus A330
By Chris C., March 21 2018
Virgin Australia partner Etihad Airways is swapping out its Boeing 787s on Perth-Abu Dhabi flights in favour of Airbus A330s from April 16, which isn't good news for business travellers.
That’s because the airline’s famed Business Studio seats as offered on the Dreamliner…
… will be replaced with Etihad’s last-generation business class on the A330s: a slightly-tweaked by otherwise off-the-shelf Stelia Solstys seat, such as you’d find aboard Hong Kong Airlines, Thai Airways and others.
(Etihad's previous bedding style is pictured here, but this is otherwise the A330 seat.)
AusBT review: Etihad Airbus A330 business class, Abu Dhabi-Munich
Although the seats aboard both aircraft transform into fully-flat beds, the length of that bed is considerably longer on the Dreamliner at up to 204cm, compared to 185cms on the A330s.
The Boeing 787's inflight entertainment system is also more modern, with HDMI external inputs and an 18.5-inch screen...
... compared to 15 inches on the A330 where the only external inputs are RCA jacks, pioneered by the VCR.
Also absent from the A330 are benefits common of newer aircraft types, such as the Boeing 787's larger (and dimmable) windows, on which there's also less cabin noise and a higher cabin pressure to create a lower 'cabin altitude', which helps to reduce jet lag.
AusBT review: Etihad Boeing 787 business class, Brisbane-Abu Dhabi
The switcheroo takes place from April 16 2018 on flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi, and from April 17 on flight EY487 departing Perth, with Etihad's website and other booking systems now reflecting the change, and showing the Airbus A330 on flights as far forward as the booking system runs (just under one year):
Etihad Airways tells Australian Business Traveller that this change is "to better tailor capacity to demand on the route".
International flights from Perth are becoming increasingly competitive, with Etihad rival Emirates already flying its flagship Airbus A380s on selected Perth-Dubai flights with a plan to make Perth an all-A380 destination, while Qatar Airways is also bringing its superjumbos onto Perth-Doha flights from May 1 2018.
Similarly, Cathay Pacific is now flying its newest Airbus A350s to Perth which also connect passengers onwards to Europe via Hong Kong, with Qantas launching non-stop Perth-London flights on March 25 using its own Boeing 787-9 jets.
Perth isn’t the only Australian city affected by recent Etihad flight changes, with the airline also having withdrawn its Airbus A380s from Melbourne in favour of double-daily Sydney superjumbo flights, and removing first class service from its Brisbane-Abu Dhabi Boeing 787 flights in late 2016.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
Shame. By far love the 787. EY’s J on this aircraft is fantastic too. Also Y, pleasure flying with them.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
24 Feb 2016
Total posts 18
Although the A330's Y is substantially more spacious than the 787 Y. Should be a huge improvement down the back.
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 122
QR and EK will be jumping for joy. EY will lose a lot of business travellers with this.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2016
Total posts 54
sadly, I'm not even sure the average passenger looks at what plane they're flying.the A380 has proved unique in this area though but I doubt many will know the difference between a 787 and an a330
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2017
Total posts 17
Tend to dispute average passenger not aware of the unique chacter of the 787.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 388
I would tend to agree with you. The average traveler (my parents) who fly a mixture of business, premier and economy 6 times a year provide feed back based of seat configuration etc. on a resent trip they had SQ’s new A359 from Brisbane and she commented on the 1-2-1 seat configuration as also in the past visually noted 2-4-2 and 3-3-3 at the back of the bus. But not once could they tell me aircraft type.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jun 2015
Total posts 13
Being a TA I can attest to the average passenger not having a clue about the aircraft they are flying on. Its all about price for the average passenger. J class passengers are a different story and I would say the majority do know quite a lot about the J product before they come in to see me.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 128
@Bigbird you are correct there. The average Y traveller will seek price over aircraft type. Even in corporate circles the aircraft won’t impact in Y. Although J product and aircraft it’s on is always important. Particularly since the $$ spend is so much higher!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Dec 2016
Total posts 43
Etihad should write a book on how to practice the salami tactic of reducing service to passengers...flying reimagined indeed
27 May 2017
Total posts 21
Very very disappointing by Etihad especially after they have done all this cost cutting i will not be flying Etihad anytime in the future unless they get there act together Emirates and Qatar are better anyway
Aegean Airlines - Miles & Bonus
17 Sep 2017
Total posts 17
Agreed. Flew Etihads flagship business on their A380 to New York and was told that slippers were not offered, bedding was limited to one pillow and blanket (and mattress sheet if asked for) and seat was like an ironing board and flight attendants were downright rude. Only good aspect was the food, everything else felt very much like economy class...
28 Dec 2016
Total posts 74
Just want to point out the “lower cabin altitude” is not a modern jet feature.. its just a new boeing marketing spin. The decades old 747-400s / a340s often have equivalent or lower cabin altitude vs. brand new 787s.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
We're comparing an Airbus A330, which has an average 'cabin altitude' of approximately 7,500 feet, with the newer Boeing 787, which runs at around 6,000 feet (as do other newer planes like the Airbus A350 and A380). This is scientific fact backed up by a number of external studies, not 'marketing spin'.
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 122
Also a significant downgrade in capacity. 37 seat reduction per day.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 May 2017
Total posts 17
This is too much. I can handle upward switcheroo. But downside switcheroo with smaller screens? Leaves me flummaxed and with visions of over extended airlines going backwards. Damaged by wild competition.
27 May 2017
Total posts 21
Etihad have probably given up hope with Qantas new Perth - London direct plus Emirates already two daily flights (one being A380) and with Qatar very soon flying the A380 to Perth for a year then hopefully Qsuites and Singapore flying the new 787-10 to Perth soon as their second destination for the aircraft after Manila and then Cathay who are now flying their A350 to Perth and Thai and China Southern with their 787s
Aegean Airlines - Miles & Bonus
17 Sep 2017
Total posts 17
I think Etihad is downsizing as they are losing money. Most of their routes are no longer sustainable and cuts made to their onboard product are certainly not attracting more customers. I think Emirates will probably absorb them in the future, and there will be one flag carrier of the UAE as they never really needed 2.
03 May 2013
Total posts 680
Etihad is Gulf Air MkII. At least Gulf Air has survived and slowly building its fleet and network again. I think the Etihad experiment was well intentioned and helped lift standards in aviation generally through the competition it helped fuel - hard and soft product. The candle is slwoly melting for Etihad. Give up Etihad and let there be only Emirates for the UAE.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 144
any given day i would fly Etihad compared to emirates (in J), where i get 1-2-1 on J. Emirates J is a joke, unless you are on the A380.
Qantas
08 May 2014
Total posts 10
just got $1200 return Perth-Europe on CX for August, A350 to Hong Kong....can't go wrong...
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
I got PER to CDG for $1090 RT a few months back and flying in a week.
Qantas
08 May 2014
Total posts 10
Think Etihad was about the same price but wouldn't fly on a 330, though agree with the above comments that most pax choose on price alone.
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
I’ve still got the 787 next week so I’m happy!
22 Dec 2012
Total posts 35
Having flown at both ends of the plane, most passengers would find this to be an upgrade. The 787 economy is terribly cramped, the A330 is significantly better in this regard.
Turkish Airlines - Miles & Smiles
08 Jun 2014
Total posts 262
Kind sir, I will take you up on that offer... if I fly with them again once the 787 departs...
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 182
Shame, Etihad is slowly doing its best to lose market share month by month - when will it all stop as it has certainly made me look at changing carriers and I am sure I am not alone. Qatar and Emirates are leaving Etihad behind when it comes to the ME3.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Jul 2017
Total posts 4
Agree with those who favour the A330 over the others in Y - travelling as a couple the 2-4-2 configuration is a big plus (as long as we secure the 2 on the side)
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